Mountains to Molehills: Term limits

Published: Sunday, January 19, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 17, 2014 at 4:22 p.m.

Folks champing at the bit for congressional term limits are neglecting something, says David M. Brown. He is referring to the 1995 Supreme Court decision U.S. Term Limits Inc. v. (Ray) Thornton. The court ruled that states cannot impose congressional qualifications stricter than those found in the Constitution. “The Supreme Court overthrew the term limits on congressional delegations imposed by 23 states,” says Mr. Brown. “Until this decision is reversed, state-level imposition of term limits on congressional delegations has been foreclosed.”

‘CHEAP AND EASY’: President Barack Obama isn’t listening. That word comes from Larry Mobley of Hendersonville. Mr. Mobley recently shared with Mountains to Molehills readers his suggestions for buying American-made products to preserve American jobs. “And what does our president do? He is spending $700 million to buy Russian helicopters to give to the Afghans!” reports Mr. Mobley. “I won’t even start on why we’re giving helicopters to the Afghans, but why are we supporting arms dealers in Russia? Our government also spent $678 million for a Canadian company to design the disastrous Obamacare website, without even soliciting bids from American companies!” One more thing: “President Obama recently said the growing income disparity in the United States is the ‘defining challenge of our time.’ I, too, am disturbed by the amount of poverty in this country, but I think our government is still addressing the symptoms because the core issues are more difficult. I believe that income is a direct function of education, motivation and opportunity. And you don’t fix those by increasing the minimum wage or adding to food stamp and welfare programs. Do the people in your family, especially the men, value education? Are they motivated to perform any work well? And are you supporting domestic businesses and products, or do you buy cheap foreign products? We Americans are looking for cheap and easy. That’s why many of us are obese. We’re looking for an easy shortcut that is not as difficult or inconvenient as diet and exercise, the only things that actually work. Reducing income disparity requires a change in mindset and getting people motivated to participate. Let’s start selling that to the public!”

POOR HUBBY: An old-timer went to the doctor to complain that his wife could barely hear. The doctor suggested a test to find out the extent of the problem. “Stand far behind her and ask her a question, and then slowly move up and see how far away you are when she first responds,” said the doctor. The old man was excited to finally be working on a solution for the problem. He raced home, where his wife was preparing supper. “Honey,” he said while standing approximately 20 feet away, “what’s for supper?” After receiving no response, he tried it again 15 feet away, and again there was no response. Then he tried the test at 10 feet away, and again there was no response. Finally he was 5 feet away. “Honey, what’s for supper?” he asked. She answered, “For the fourth time, it’s lasagna!”

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Let’s recycle those Christmas cards (fronts only) by sending them to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. The recycled cards will be sold to help continue work for abused, abandoned and neglected children. Send your cards to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Recycled Card Program, 100 St. Jude’s St., Boulder City, Nev., 89005. All types of greeting cards, with the exception of those made by Hallmark, Disney and American Greetings, are used for the project. The recycled card project currently has an increased need for birthday and thank-you cards. You can order recycled cards from St. Jude’s by phone at 877-977-7572.

<p>Folks champing at the bit for congressional term limits are neglecting something, says David M. Brown. He is referring to the 1995 Supreme Court decision U.S. Term Limits Inc. v. (Ray) Thornton. The court ruled that states cannot impose congressional qualifications stricter than those found in the Constitution. “The Supreme Court overthrew the term limits on congressional delegations imposed by 23 states,” says Mr. Brown. “Until this decision is reversed, state-level imposition of term limits on congressional delegations has been foreclosed.”</p><p>'CHEAP AND EASY': President Barack Obama isn't listening. That word comes from Larry Mobley of Hendersonville. Mr. Mobley recently shared with Mountains to Molehills readers his suggestions for buying American-made products to preserve American jobs. “And what does our president do? He is spending $700 million to buy Russian helicopters to give to the Afghans!” reports Mr. Mobley. “I won't even start on why we're giving helicopters to the Afghans, but why are we supporting arms dealers in Russia? Our government also spent $678 million for a Canadian company to design the disastrous Obamacare website, without even soliciting bids from American companies!” One more thing: “President Obama recently said the growing income disparity in the United States is the 'defining challenge of our time.' I, too, am disturbed by the amount of poverty in this country, but I think our government is still addressing the symptoms because the core issues are more difficult. I believe that income is a direct function of education, motivation and opportunity. And you don't fix those by increasing the minimum wage or adding to food stamp and welfare programs. Do the people in your family, especially the men, value education? Are they motivated to perform any work well? And are you supporting domestic businesses and products, or do you buy cheap foreign products? We Americans are looking for cheap and easy. That's why many of us are obese. We're looking for an easy shortcut that is not as difficult or inconvenient as diet and exercise, the only things that actually work. Reducing income disparity requires a change in mindset and getting people motivated to participate. Let's start selling that to the public!”</p><p>POOR HUBBY: An old-timer went to the doctor to complain that his wife could barely hear. The doctor suggested a test to find out the extent of the problem. “Stand far behind her and ask her a question, and then slowly move up and see how far away you are when she first responds,” said the doctor. The old man was excited to finally be working on a solution for the problem. He raced home, where his wife was preparing supper. “Honey,” he said while standing approximately 20 feet away, “what's for supper?” After receiving no response, he tried it again 15 feet away, and again there was no response. Then he tried the test at 10 feet away, and again there was no response. Finally he was 5 feet away. “Honey, what's for supper?” he asked. She answered, “For the fourth time, it's lasagna!”</p><p>LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Let's recycle those Christmas cards (fronts only) by sending them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children. The recycled cards will be sold to help continue work for abused, abandoned and neglected children. Send your cards to St. Jude's Ranch for Children, Recycled Card Program, 100 St. Jude's St., Boulder City, Nev., 89005. All types of greeting cards, with the exception of those made by Hallmark, Disney and American Greetings, are used for the project. The recycled card project currently has an increased need for birthday and thank-you cards. You can order recycled cards from St. Jude's by phone at 877-977-7572.</p>